My pop turned 94 this week, and I went to visit with him in the home of my mother’s childhood - a place that continues to vibrate with many of my own earliest memories.

To sit again in these rooms brought back pieces of myself I’d forgotten to miss. It was like opening a time capsule, and being met with the many precious relics I’d once carefully tucked inside.

‘This is for the mama whose newest addition is already here; life got crazy, and then there was a baby, and you’re only really getting around to looking into photographs now.’

In this piece, Geelong newborn photographer Michelle McKay speaks to why it’s never too late to have your new baby’s story told.

“Woman. Let me remind you of a truth you already know.”

In this piece, Geelong newborn and family photographer Michelle McKay speaks to the deepest and mostly unspoken fears held by women and mothers at the thought of being photographed.

“You’re busy growing a baby and you’re getting excited about those first week photos. But the big decision is looming - it’s time to decide whether to invite a photographer to come to your home once your little one arrives.”

In this piece, Geelong newborn photographer Michelle McKay answers all the questions you never knew you had about in-home newborn photography, including the big one - is in-home photography for everyone..?

‘When I was small, my dad took photographs. I guess you could call him an original family documentarian; he didn’t just take photos of clean kids siting neatly on the porch, or in front of the church before Sunday School. He took photographs of everything. My toddler brother in his high chair, eating Vegemite toast. Me and my sister picking mandarins off the fruit tree in the backyard, or shelling peas at the picnic table with mum. The washing line, heavy with tiny pastel singlets and cloth nappies on washing day, stark whites flapping lazily in the sunny breeze.’

In this piece, Geelong and Melbourne photographer Michelle McKay explores the true value of unposed photography and the way its value only grows over time.

‘So you’ve booked a photo session and the big day is drawing nearer. Now for the tricky bit - what do we wear?!’

In this piece, Geelong photographer Michelle McKay provides some simple tips and a visual storybook for what to wear to ensure you look your best for your family photographs.

‘Catching memories is my life's work, matched only by two things - an apparent compulsion to help and encourage others to see and be present in their own #beautifulordinary lives, and a soul-deep conviction that printing and displaying candid photographs is a keystone for happiness, identity and belonging.’

In this piece, Geelong photographer Michelle McKay announces she’s giving away a Fiji Instax, and explains how to enter.

‘I recently created this simple wall hanging for our dining room and it has quickly become the kids' favourite place in the house. Over every meal we chat about the memories it holds, and I often find my children and their friends gazing up at the photographs, giggling softly and pointing out their favourite pictures.’

In this piece, Geelong photographer Michelle McKay shares how to make a simple and cost effective picture gallery to light up any wall of your home.

'When I began printing and displaying my family’s photographs, it was for no other reasons than that seeing my children and our beautiful ordinary life on our walls made me crazily, dizzily happy. But when I saw the impact it had on my daughter to see herself large as life in the hallway, in the bedroom and above the kitchen bench, I was hooked.'

In this piece, Geelong photographer Michelle McKay talks about selecting wall art that is not only a beautiful representation of your family, but that is also artistic.

'There’s no denying that the makings of a strong and stunning photograph happens in camera - the talent and experience of the artist is so important in shaping the vision of the resulting capture. But in order to create a photograph that transcends the humble snap and moves into fine art, a lot happens behind the scenes.'

In this piece, Geelong Photographer Michelle McKay reveals the transformation of a SOOC image to the completed piece of photographic art.